CITATION CHAINING

Citation Chaining: Simple Step-by-Step Guide

What is Citation Chaining?

Citation chaining uses one relevant article to discover related research in two directions:

Backward chaining: Check the reference list to find foundational studies the authors built upon
Forward chaining: Use databases like Scopus or Web of Science to find newer articles that have cited your source

Tips:

Start with a well-cited article in your area
Articles appearing across multiple chains are often key sources
Combine both directions for comprehensive coverage

Two Directions of Citation Chaining

Backward Chaining (What did this article cite?)

Look at the article's reference list to find older, foundational sources.

Forward Chaining (Who cited this article?)

Find newer articles that have cited your original source.

Google Scholar

Backward Chaining

Open your article in Google Scholar
Scroll to the bottom of the article or click on the article entry
Review the "References" or "Cited by" section
Click on any reference title to view that source

Forward Chaining

Find your article in Google Scholar
Look below the article entry for "Cited by [number]"
Click on "Cited by [number]"
Browse the list of newer articles that cited your original source
Sort by relevance or date as needed

Scopus

Backward Chaining

Open your article's record in Scopus
Click on "References" in the article details
Browse the reference list
Click on any linked reference to view its full record

Forward Chaining

Find your article in Scopus
Look for "Cited by [number]" in the article record
Click on "Cited by [number]"
Use filters on the left sidebar to narrow results (date, subject area, document type, etc.)
Sort by relevance, date, or citation count

Web of Science and Proquest also have similar features.

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